A Neolithic settlement emerged from farmland on Rousay during a winter discovery. Rinyo is a prehistoric settlement site on Bigland Farm in north-east Rousay, excavated by Vere Gordon Childe and W. G. Grant.
The source pack is short, but the site has a strong archaeological pedigree. Its finds of flint implements, stone axes, stone balls, pottery, and a mace-head place it within Rousay’s unusually dense prehistoric landscape, alongside Midhowe Broch (an Iron Age drystone round tower) and Midhowe Chambered Cairn.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Rinyo was discovered in the winter of 1937-38 on Bigland Farm.
The site lies in the north-east of Rousay.
Vere Gordon Childe and W. G. Grant excavated Rinyo in 1938 and 1946.
Finds included flint implements, stone axes, stone balls, pottery, and a stone mace-head.
Childe also excavated Skara Brae on Mainland Orkney.
Rousay has more than 100 identified archaeological sites, including Midhowe Broch and Midhowe Chambered Cairn.
People
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Portrait: Swan Watson, Andrew / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain Vere Gordon Childe
archaeologist who excavated Rinyo and also excavated Skara Brae.
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W. G. Grant
co-excavator of Rinyo in 1938 and 1946.
Connections
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Photo: MichaelMaggs / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Midhowe Broch
Part of Rousay’s wider archaeological landscape.
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Photo: MichaelMaggs / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Midhowe Chambered Cairn
Part of the same island’s dense archaeological record.
What to look for
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Settlement finds
Flints, axes, stone balls, pottery, and a mace-head were recovered.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 59.1733°N · 2.9822°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Moderate walking
Opening & admission
The source pack does not provide reliable current admission details; verify before travelling.
- The pack gives the farm location and excavations, but no current visitor access details.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is Rinyo?
- It is a Neolithic settlement site on Rousay in Orkney.
- When was it discovered?
- It was discovered in the winter of 1937-38 on Bigland Farm.
- Who excavated Rinyo?
- Vere Gordon Childe and W. G. Grant excavated it in 1938 and 1946.
- What was found there?
- Finds included flint implements, stone axes, stone balls, pottery, and a stone mace-head.
Sources
- Wikipedia article
- Source pack: Rinyo
Explore more: Tomb or burial places · Prehistoric · Orkney Islands
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